Kidderminster

Related Topics:
Kidderminster_Harriers :: Kidderminster :: Kidderminster_and_District :: Kidderminster_College

Kidderminster is a town in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately 20 miles south-west of Birmingham city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town. The town is affectionally known by locals as 'Kiddy'. The town is twinned with the town of Husum, Germany.

The town centre area has undergone substantial redevelopment in recent years, with the commercial retail area of 'Weaver's Wharf' attracting many visitors and shoppers. 'Slingfield Mill', a Grade II listed building, has been converted into a retail outlet and incorporated into 'Weaver's Wharf'.

History

A parliamentary report of 1777 listed Kidderminster Borough as having a parish workhouse accommodating up to 70 inmates. Under the so-called Gilbert's Act of 1782 Kidderminster Union was established for the purpose of relieving the indigent poor.

Under the Local Government Act 1972, it was proposed for Kidderminster to be part of the West Midlands metropolitan county, but it was scrapped after the proposed county boundary was trimmed back to Stourbridge.

Geography

The River Stour and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal both flow through Kidderminster town centre.

Economy

The modern carpet industry was founded in the area in 1785 by Brintons, and the carpet industry became extremely important to the local economy, so much so that the local newspaper is still named the Kidderminster Shuttle after the shuttles used on the carpet looms. Although much declined in recent years, the industry is still a significant employer in the area, with Brintons still employing several hundred people.

The only commercial radio station located in the town is The Wyre, which started broadcasting on 12 September 2005. It competes alongside Wyvern FM, Classic Hits, and BBC Hereford & Worcester, who also target the town.

There are several things which are key parts of the unique make-up of the town, one of these are the huge former British Sugar Corporation silos sited in their now redundant site on the Stourport Road, these silos can be seen from the Malvern Hills, nearly 30 miles away.

Politics

The Wyre Forest District Council is currently run by a minorityConservative Partygroup, who hold 18 of the council's 42 seats.In addition there are still Kidderminster Health Concern candidates on the council.

Kidderminster is an unparished area within Wyre Forest District, but Charter Trustees maintain the traditions of the town and elect a Mayor.

It is notable that in the United Kingdom general election, 2001, the town returned Dr Richard Taylor as an independent MP for the Wyre Forest parliamentary constituency. Only a handful of independent MPs have been elected since World War II and Taylor had fought the election to protest against the proposed reduction in services at Kidderminster Hospital. He held his seat at the 2005 election, the first independent MP to do so since 1949.

Famous residents

The Puritan minister Richard Baxter, (born November 12, 1615 - died December 8, 1691) began his ministry in Kidderminster in April 1641 and spent the next 19 years in the town. There is a statue to him outside the parish church where he was based. It states his wish 'for unity and comprehension in religion'

Kidderminster was the birthplace of Lant Carpenter.

Sir Josiah Mason, an English pen-manufacturer, was born in Mill Street on 23 February 1795. Sir Rowland Hill, the inventor of the Penny Black and the modern postal system, was born in Blackwell Street. There is a statue, sculpted by Sir Thomas BrockPublic Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project, to him in Vicar Street outside the Town Hall. There is a pub in the Bull Ring called The Penny Black in his honour.

Although not born in the town the ex-front man of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant has close association with Kidderminster, particularly Kidderminster College of Further Education. Another sometime Led Zeppelin artist, solo guitarist Robbie Blunt, also has association with Kidderminster. Birmingham gay DJ Tony De Vit was born in Kidderminster.

Jon Turley, an author who writes children's books, has lived in Kidderminster since the mid 1990s and was born some 15 miles away in Worcester.

Transport

There are two railway stations in the town, sharing the same approach road. The main Network Rail station is just called Kidderminster with trains to Birmingham and Worcester. The other station is that of the preserved Heritage Railway line, Severn Valley Railway, and their station is called Kidderminster Town. The Severn Valley Railway runs from the town to Bridgnorth.

Kidderminster is on the A456 which runs from Birmingham and Woofferton, Shropshire, a few miles south of Ludlow.

Sport

Cricket

Kidderminster Victoria C.C is a local cricket club.

Football

Formed in 1886, Kidderminster Harriers F.C. is the town's professional football club. Local rivals of the Harriers are Cheltenham Town and Hereford United, although currently both Cheltenham and Hereford are in divisions above Kidderminster. In 2005 the Harriers were relegated to the Conference National after five years in the Football League Two division.

Rugby

Kidderminster Carolians R.F.C is a local rugby club, currently playing in Midlands Division 3 West Northern Section.

Hockey

Kidderminster Hockey club was founded in 1892 and in 2006 was still going strong. There are 5 mens teams, a ladies and a junior team.

Food & drink

There are many pubs and drinking establishments in Kidderminster. There are also several nightclubs, with 'Mirage' being the longest-standing in the town, having opened in the early-mid 1990's, while the recently renamed and relaunched 'DY10' (formerly 'Redwoods') takes its name from the postcode for the town. There are also longer licensed bars such as the Watermill, PlayersBar and NU Bar, which are very popular places in the town.